Bucs' Morris defends Talib in exchange with official

A day after Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Aqib Talib engaged in an expletive-laced exchange with a game official after a loss at Baltimore, Coach Raheem Morris defended his player.

"He didn't do anything wrong,'' Morris said. "He was just in conversation, so I'm not going to sit here and act like Aqib did anything wrong toward the official because I'm not into that. That's between those two men and whatever happened, happened.''

As he walked toward the Bucs locker room after the 17-10 loss, Talib complained about a call made late in the first half by directing an expletive-filled comment at a group of officials. An official responded with an expletive, which prompted another expletive-filled response from Talib.

Several reporters witnessed the exchange.

Talib was restrained by teammates from going after the official, who was pushed toward his own locker room by other officials.

The NFL is looking into the matter.

Morris disputed Talib had to be restrained.

"I think you heard a rumor there,'' said Morris, who did not witness the incident. "Nobody restrained Aqib Talib from an official. Those terms are accusations. There was no violent behavior. There was a conversation while walking away.

"But there was no violence. There was no violent behavior. If there is a violent behavior, usually my people come to me and tell me what happened violently. That means you punch somebody or you push somebody, something of that nature.''

Morris also seemed to defend Talib's language, saying he talks in a way others may not understand.

"I think you guys misinterpret the way he talks,'' Morris said. "His swearing is not necessarily the swearing you guys would come across, and I'm not even sure he swore or not.

"I do know he wanted an explanation on what the call was as well. So, he was listening and he was there and he was a part of it just like the rest of our team was. You go through the tunnel with 53 guys there and people talk and people are going to say whatever they feel at the time, so it is what it is.''